Things that you regret not continuing to practice?

[TechieDork]

Today, I get really tired after endless hours of preparation for Electromagnetism final so I start tracing on my past internet activities. And I've came across my post from 2012.
Suddenly a sense of nostalgia hits me hard. Many old memories started playing back and forth in my head..

That was my first experience with programming and my first experience of communicating in English. I didn't even know what int was , what float was and what hex was so It was pure trials and errors.

I remember I was spending 6+ a day debugging codes and "frankensteining" many pieces of codes from other modders.

8 years has passed , and now I'm a 20 years old fully-grown adult (and single) on the halfway to graduation.

Waves of Regret starts creeping on my skin , realizing how much time I've wasted on playing MMORPG and doing stupid stuffs (watching porns in computer classes with my friends , drawing on school toilet's walls etc..)

If I could of going back when I was 12 , I'd tell my younger self to continue practicing and learning programming as much as I could.
I gave up because I thought it was just a game and it just meant for kids not realizing how much potential it had.

Today being able to code is becoming like knowing a 2nd language when the world is heading toward heavy-automations.

 

[Borek]

I'm a 20 years old fully-grown adult

Be very afraid of what you will think about this statement if you dig it out in eight years from now.

 

[Mondayman]

Twenty years old? You are still young, don't fret wasted time. Just get on doing the things you enjoy to do and want to get better at. Take it from me, I wasted my teenage years and early adulthood on alcohol, drugs, and video games. It's never to late to start doing something if you truly enjoy it.

 

[BillTre]

Today being able to code is becoming like knowing a 2nd language.

When I was graduate student student (1980's), I somehow talked my PhD committee into using programing courses to cover my language requirement.
I feel that was a good thing. I have used computers a lot more (and have a deeper understanding of them) than I would have used another language and I think computer provide a good metaphor for aspects of biological functions.

Delaying my entrance into graduate school for about 5 years followed by a break from grad school (working in labs) was a bad decision professionally (being older than the usual graduate student/post-doc made finding fellowships more difficult).
However, it was a good decision in that my time was not wasted. I greatly broadened my knowledge from isolated fields (as taught in many courses) into a well integrated network of interleaved scientific concepts.
Also, practiced a lot of guitar.
So over all, not that bad.

 

[Vanadium 50]

My PhD language exam went something like this:

"Well, Mr. Fifty. We see you took German as an undergrad. Guten tag!"
"¿Que?"
"Close enough. NEXT!"

 

[berkeman]

Wakarimasen...

 

[Klystron]

สวัสดี สบายดีหรือ Sawadee tan by.

 

[berkeman]

สวัสดี สบายดีหรือ Sawadee tan by.

Very pretty. What language is that?

 

[Klystron]

Very pretty. What language is that?

สวัสดี สบายดีหรือ Sawadee tan by.

Modern Thai. Written Thai is derived from original Sanskrit; so, 4-5,000 years old.

 

[TechieDork]

สวัสดี สบายดีหรือ Sawadee tan by.

"สวัสดี" or in English "sawasdee" was issued by field marshall Pibulsongkram in 1943 as a greeting term and also as a part of civilized national identities .

 

[berkeman]

Things that you regret not continuing to practice?

So back on-topic, this is one of the biggest things that I regret not keeping up with in my life -- from my PF Mentor Biography:

Source https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/interview-electrical-engineer-berkeman/

Living in the countryside near Calistoga during my high school years was wonderful. My buddies and I would ride our dirtbikes, hunt, fish, hike, and generally enjoy the country life. I feel very lucky that I ended up in that situation during the very formative years of high school. I was also very lucky that a new teacher came to Calistoga High School when I was there — he was a black belt in Kodenkan JuJitsu, and he started a dojo/club there based out of the high school. I worked my way up to 2nd degree brown belt before I graduated HS, and unfortunately have never gotten back to it. Sensei emphasized the philosophy of martial arts as much as he taught the physical arts, and I learned a great deal from him about service and honesty and honor. I have only had to use the physical arts a couple of times in self-defense, but I have used the philosophical concepts almost every day of my life. Thank you sensei

The martial arts training that I participated in during high school was very formative in my life, and has helped me countless times. I will probably never get back to it, but I miss the valuable lessons and training often.

 

[TechieDork]

Twenty years old? You are still young, don't fret wasted time. Just get on doing the things you enjoy to do and want to get better at. Take it from me, I wasted my teenage years and early adulthood on alcohol, drugs, and video games. It's never to late to start doing something if you truly enjoy it.

I've read about child prodigies and people who are extremely successful at very young age. It always blown my mind what these high-achievers are capable of doing.

Would it be good if everyone were born with a complete life-long roadmap , knowing exactly what to do , when to do with his/her life and focus all his/her time and effort that area?... I just wonder.

But in the reality , life and world are meant to be explored and experienced.

 

[rsk]

My regrets are not so lofty:

Piano playing
Plants v Zombies.

 

[nuuskur]

8 years has passed , and now I'm a 20 years old fully-grown adult

I don't think a full-grown adult needs to emphasise this point.

As for me, I used to play the trumpet and now that I think back, I should have practiced more often. The instruments are so expensive and they just lend these out to music school students and I mostly squandered the opportunity. Oh well..

 

[wukunlin]

I used to eat whatever I want and still stay slim. Should have kept doing that.